Montebello High Kids Get Messages of Peace in Relationships

By Sandra T. Molina, Staff Writer

Saira Dominguez, left, and Richard Pacheco of the East Los Angeles Women's Center perform a skit "My Relationships" for Montebello High students during an assembly addressing the problem of violence in relationships presented by the East Los Angeles Women's Center and Montebello USD June 2, 2011.(SGVN/Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb)

MONTEBELLO - As part of its Safe Schools-Healthy Students program, the Montebello Unified School District presented two anti-violence assemblies for its male students Thursday at Montebello High School.

The assemblies, hosted in conjunction with the East Los Angeles Women's Center, were designed to help increase awareness, among male high school students, of the dangers of violence in relationships.

"One in three teens is in a violent relationship by the time they graduate from high school," said Stephanie Mesones, ELAWC education specialist.

Actors from ELAWC performed a skit titled, "My Relationships," that showed how quickly teen conversations can slip into an abusive tone and even into violence.

"Showing them a true-to-life example of a boyfriend asking, then demanding his girlfriend tell him who is calling her, is recognizable by our students," said George Muriel, MUSD assistant director of pupil and community services.

"A lot of them don't know how quickly a situation can turn violent," he said. "These presentations shows them there are other ways to deal with things."

This assembly was a follow-up to a similar all-female assembly in March.

"Violent and abusive relationships affect communities and schools," Mesones said. "We hope students will see there are alternatives."

She said bringing this conversation into schools is helpful because some parents are uncomfortable about discussing the subject with the children.

The ELAWC has provided this service to area high schools for 30 years.

"This program is part of our efforts to provide information to students and their parents about real-life situations," Muriel said.

There were testimonials from people involved in domestic violence, and law enforcement stressed the consequences of violent acts.

"The testimonials from other young people challenged our students to change their own personal history," Muriel said. "They told them to step up and be role models for change."

The program, Mesones said, is designed to change the culture of how we treat each other.

"We show them that they have to be invested," she said.

MUSD and ELAWC will continue its partnership next school year.

"We are looking forward to scheduling follow-up sessions next year for our students," Muriel said. "We hope to shape behavior for the better."